Northern State Faculty Member Is Microsoft TechSpark Fellow

A Northern State University faculty member has been selected as a fellow for the Microsoft TechSpark program.

Lindey Huber, an instructor of management information systems, will focus her fellowship on hands-on artificial intelligence training. The aim is to help people better understand the technology to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce growth across the region, according to a news release.

Huber said she is participating in a series of webinars called “sprints” with which the fellows learn about different sectors like K-12 education, higher education, and government and political leadership. Each sprint covers different resources available, she said.

Lindsey Huber, instructor of management information systems at Northern State University,  has been selected as a TechSpark Fellow. Courtesy photo.

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There will be a lot of self-learning through the program, she said. Fellows are also paired up to work on project ideas.

“I’m honored to serve as a TechSpark Fellow and to help bring meaningful AI training to our rural communities,” said Huber in the release. “Northeastern South Dakota is full of talented, hardworking people with big ideas. With Microsoft‘s support, we can give them more of the tools and confidence they need to turn those ideas into real opportunities, whether that leads to stronger businesses, new startups or a better-prepared workforce.”

TechSpark launched in 2017 and started its Community Engagement Fellowship program in 2023. It helps communities across the U.S. access digital skills training and economic opportunities. Through the fellowship, communities receive technical assistance, resources and support to create digital-inclusion initiatives focused on digital access, computer science education, digital skilling in workforce development and digital transformation.

Huber is one of 24 fellows selected for the 2025-26 group and the second fellow from South Dakota.

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Because application and acceptance into the program happened quickly, there will be a learning curve getting up to speed, Huber said. But she envisions the creation of AI-focused workshops and bootcamps that can be offered through the Northern Startup and Innovation Center.

Huber said she likes to remain optimistic about AI and gets frustrated with the doom-and-gloom news about it, like significant job cuts by big companies. She said she doesn’t believe those job cuts are all because of AI. Instead, she said, AI can open up opportunities for companies to be more creative.

But, she said, to take advantage of the opportunities, it’s necessary to figure out what AI is and how it can best be used.

“I’m excited to learn more about it,” Huber said.